,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gich ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,august #d1 #bjbj,mr4 ,mc,caul introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to improve and coordinate ,united ,states information statecraft strategy and capabilities for an era of strategic competition1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,united ,states ,information ,abroad for ,strategic ,competition ,act or the ,,usia for ,strategic ,competition ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,beginning in #aihc1 the ,soviet ,union waged a disinformation campaign against the ,united ,states which came to be known as ,operation ,,infektion1 falsely accusing the ,department of ,defense of engineering and spreading the ,,aids virus4 7#b7 ,in #aihg1 the ,soviet ,union publicly disavowed its ,,aids disinformation following the efforts of the ,united ,states ,active ,measures ,working ,group to refute these lies and discredit the ,soviet ,union4 7#c7 ,shortly thereafter1 the ,working ,group entered a period of institutional decline because its work was perceived to contravene ,department of ,state efforts to engage with the ,soviet ,union1 and effectively ceased to exist following the fall of the ,soviet ,union4 7#d7 ,the final report issued by members of the ,working ,group1 published by the ,united ,states ,information ,agency in #aiib at the request of the ,house of ,representatives1 warned that as long as states and groups interested in manipulating world opinion1 limiting ,u4,s4 ,government actions1 or generating opposition to ,u4,s4 policies and interests continue to use these techniques1 there will be a need for the ,united ,states ,information ,agency to systematically monitor1 analyze1 and counter them44 7#e7 ,in #bjbj1 the ,communist ,party of ,china 7,,ccp7 began a disinformation campaign against the ,united ,states1 falsely accusing the ,united ,states of being the source of the ,,sars-,co,v-#b novel coronavirus and the ,united ,states ,army of bringing the virus to ,china4 #c4 ,information statecraft 7a7 ,finding ,the #bjag ,national ,security ,strategy establishes that it is a priority of ,united ,states ,information ,statecraft to improve our understanding of how adversaries gain informational and psychological advantages across all policies and empower a true public diplomacy capability to compete effectively in this arena4 7b7 ,policy ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states to advance ,united ,states foreign policy and national security interests through a holistic approach to public diplomacy1 which shall include the following3 7#a7 ,championing and promoting ,united ,states values1 including democratic governance1 individual liberty1 and internationally recognized human rights4 7#b7 ,supporting the international dissemination of unbiased and fact-based information1 and protecting the free flow of information globally4 7#c7 ,refuting and countering foreign state and nonstate propaganda1 disinformation1 and narratives that undermine ,united ,states values1 such as the promotion of authoritarian governance1 the denigration of individual liberty1 and the disregard of internationally recognized human rights4 7#d7 ,discrediting foreign state and nonstate actors responsible for such propaganda1 disinformation1 and narratives1 and seeking to reduce the ability of such actors to influence global discourse4 7#e7 ,coordinating and integrating such efforts with the efforts of ,united ,states allies and partners that share ,united ,states values4 7#f7 ,providing for robust exchange1 analytic1 and coordination mechanisms to accomplish such objectives4 7c7 ,global engagement center ,paragraph 7#c7 of section #abhg7;b7 of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjag 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bfef note2 ,public ,law #aad-cbh7 is amended to read as follows3 7#c7 ,as needed1 support the development and dissemination of fact-based narratives and analysis to-- 7,a7 refute and counter propaganda and disinformation directed at the ,united ,states and ,united ,states allies and partner nations2 7,b7 discredit the actors responsible for such propaganda and disinformation2 and 7,c7 reduce the ability of such actors to influence global discourse4 4 #d4 ,active ,measures ,working ,group for the ,chinese ,communist ,party 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the ,communiqu on the ,current ,state of the ,ideological ,sphere1 an ,april #bb1 #bjac1 notice from the ,communist ,party of ,china's 7,,ccp7 ,central ,committee more commonly known as ,document #i1 establishes that under the leadership of ,general ,secretary ,xi ,jinping1 the ,,ccp considers constitutional democracy1 internationally recognized human rights1 liberal economics1 independent journalism1 and internal dissent to be security threats4 7#b7 ,in his remarks before the #aith ,communist ,party ,congress in #bjag1 which were titled in part ,strive for the ,great ,success of ,socialism with ,chinese ,characteristics for a ,new ,era1 ,general ,secretary ,xi ,jinping said1 the banner of socialism with ,chinese characteristics is now flying high and proud for all to see4 ,it means that the path1 the theory1 the system1 and the culture of socialism with ,chinese characteristics have kept developing1 blazing a new trail for other developing countries to achieve modernization4 ,it offers a new option for other countries and nations44 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,,ccp is hostile to ,united ,states values and seeks to advance an alternate set of authoritarian values1 and therefore that the ,,ccp and its ability to influence global discourse is a national security threat to the ,united ,states4 7c7 ,reconstitution ,the ,secretary of ,state shall reconstitute the ,active ,measures ,working ,group 7in this section referred to as the ,working ,group7 for a period of five years4 7d7 ,purpose ,the purpose of the ,working ,group shall be to create a regularly updated information statecraft strategy for the whole of the ,united ,states ,government to reduce the ability of the ,,ccp to influence global discourse4 7e7 ,membership ,the ,working ,group shall include the following officials3 7#a7 ,the ,under ,secretary for ,public ,diplomacy of the ,department of ,state4 7#b7 ,the ,assistant ,secretary of ,east ,asian and ,pacific ,affairs and the ,assistant ,secretary of ,south and ,central ,asian ,affairs of the ,department of ,state4 7#c7 ,the ,special ,envoy and ,coordinator of the ,global ,engagement ,center4 7#d7 ,the ,assistant ,administrator of the ,bureau for ,asia of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development4 7#e7 ,the ,assistant ,secretary for ,asian and ,pacific ,security ,affairs of the ,department of ,defense4 7#f7 ,the ,commander of the ,united ,states ,indo-,pacific ,command4 7#g7 ,other officials the ,secretary of ,state and the ,president determine appropriate4 7f7 ,chair ,the ,secretary of ,state shall designate a member of the ,working ,group as the ,chairperson4 7g7 ,cooperation ,the ,president shall ensure that the various agencies and departments of the ,united ,states cooperate with the ,working ,group1 adopt and effectuate the information statecraft strategy required under subsection 7h71 and share information appropriately to advance the strategy4 7h7 ,information statecraft strategy 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,working ,group shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and distribute to each ,federal department and agency an information statecraft strategy4 7#b7 ,contents ,the information statecraft strategy and biannual updates thereto required under this subsection shall include the following3 7,a7 ,an identification of the specific ,,ccp narratives that most contribute to the ,,ccp's ability to influence global discourse1 and the entities primarily responsible for advancing these narratives and contributing to the ,,ccp's ability to influence global discourse4 7,b7 ,an identification of counternarratives most effective and most likely to reduce the ability of the ,,ccp to influence global discourse and discredit the entities that contribute to the ,,ccp's ability to influence global discourse4 7,c7 ,a detailed plan1 including instructions for public diplomacy officers at each ,united ,states diplomatic or consular post1 to implement such counternarratives4 7,d7 ,an identification of specific quantitative objectives for advancing such counternarratives1 and an identification of the ,united ,states officials responsible for accomplishing such objectives4 7,e7 ,a quantitative analysis of ,united ,states efforts to accomplish such objectives in the preceding six months1 informed by the data and analytical capabilities of the ,under ,secretary for ,public ,diplomacy of the ,department of ,state and the ,global ,engagement ,center4 7#c7 ,biannual updates ,not later than #ahj days after the submission of the information statecraft strategy under paragraph 7#a7 and every #ahj days thereafter for a period of five years1 the ,working ,group shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an updated information statecraft strategy4 7#d7 ,form ,the information statecraft strategy and biannual updates thereto required under this subsection may be in classified form4 7#e7 ,chief of mission responsibilities ,the ,secretary of ,state should ensure that each ,united ,states chief of mission-- 7,a7 advances through both programming and communications the objectives of the information statecraft strategy and biannual updates thereto2 7,b7 assigns at least one ,foreign ,service officer to be primarily responsible for coordinating such efforts at the ,united ,states diplomatic or consular post at which such chief of mission is assigned2 and 7,c7 provides quantitative data to the ,working ,group about the efforts of such chief of mission to accomplish the objectives of the strategy1 including updates thereto4 #e4 ,special fast-track procedures ,the ,secretary of ,state shall establish procedures for use in special circumstances1 as determined by the ,secretary1 to provide for rapid1 synchronized releases of information content globally1 regionally1 or across subsets of ,united ,states diplomatic and consular posts4 #f4 ,research and evaluation 7a7 ,research and evaluation activities ,the ,secretary of ,state1 acting through the ,director of ,research and ,evaluation appointed pursuant to subsection 7b71 shall-- 7#a7 conduct regular research and evaluation of public diplomacy programs and activities of the ,department of ,state1 including through the routine use of audience research1 digital analytics1 and impact evaluations1 to plan and execute such programs and activities2 and 7#b7 make available to ,congress the findings of such research and evaluations4 7b7 ,director of ,research and ,evaluation 7#a7 ,appointment ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state shall appoint a ,director of ,research and ,evaluation 7referred to in this subsection as the ,director7 in the ,office of ,policy1 ,planning1 and ,resources for ,public ,diplomacy and ,public ,affairs of the ,department of ,state4 7#b7 ,limitation on appointment ,the appointment of the ,director pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 shall not result in an increase in the overall full-time equivalent positions within the ,department of ,state4 7#c7 ,responsibilities ,the ,director shall-- 7,a7 report to the ,director of ,policy ,planning of the ,office of ,policy1 ,planning1 and ,resources for ,public ,diplomacy and ,public ,affairs of the ,department of ,state2 7,b7 coordinate and oversee the research and evaluation of public diplomacy programs and activities of the ,department to-- 7i7 improve public diplomacy strategies and tactics2 and 7ii7 ensure that such programs and activities are increasing the knowledge1 understanding1 and trust of the ,united ,states by relevant target audiences2 7,c7 routinely organize and oversee audience research1 digital analytics1 and impact evaluations across all public diplomacy bureaus and offices of the ,department2 7,d7 support the public affairs sections of ,united ,states diplomatic and consular posts2 7,e7 share appropriate public diplomacy research and evaluation information within the ,department and with other appropriate ,federal departments and agencies2 7,f7 regularly design and coordinate standardized research questions1 methodologies1 and procedures to ensure that public diplomacy programs and activities across all public diplomacy bureaus and offices of the ,department are designed to meet appropriate foreign policy objectives2 and 7,g7 report biannually to the ,united ,states ,advisory ,commission on ,public ,diplomacy of the ,department of ,state1 through the ,subcommittee on ,research and ,evaluation established pursuant to subsection 7f71 regarding the research and evaluation of all public diplomacy bureaus and offices of the ,department4 7#d7 ,guidance and training ,not later than one year after the appointment of the ,director pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 the ,director shall develop guidance and training1 including curriculum for use by the ,foreign ,service ,institute1 for all public diplomacy officers of the ,department of ,state regarding the reading and interpretation of public diplomacy program and activity evaluation findings to ensure that such findings and related lessons learned are implemented in the planning and evaluation of all public diplomacy programs and activities of the ,department4 7c7 ,prioritizing research and evaluation 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director of ,policy ,planning of the ,office of ,policy1 ,planning1 and ,resources for ,public ,diplomacy and ,public ,affairs of the ,department of ,state shall ensure that research and evaluation of public diplomacy programs and activities of the ,department1 as coordinated and overseen by the ,director pursuant to subsection 7b71 support strategic planning and resource allocation across all public diplomacy bureaus and offices of the ,department4 7#b7 ,allocation of resources ,amounts allocated for the purpose of research and evaluation of public diplomacy programs and activities of the ,department of ,state pursuant to subsection 7b7 shall be made available to be disbursed at the direction of the ,director referred to in paragraph 7#a7 among the research and evaluation staff across all public diplomacy bureaus and offices of the ,department4 7#c7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,department of ,state should gradually increase to a percentage of program funds that is commensurate with ,federal ,government best practices its allocation of funds made available under the headings ,educational and ,cultural ,exchange ,programs and ,diplomatic ,programs for research and evaluation of public diplomacy programs and activities of the ,department pursuant to subsection 7b74 7d7 ,limited exemption relating to the ,paperwork ,reduction ,act ,subchapter ,i of chapter #ce of title #dd1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly known as the ,paperwork ,reduction ,act7 shall not apply to the collection of information directed at any individuals conducted by1 or on behalf of1 the ,department of ,state for the purpose of audience research1 monitoring1 and evaluations1 and in connection with the ,department's activities1 including interagency activities1 conducted pursuant to this ,act or to any of the following3 7#a7 ,the ,united ,states ,information and ,educational ,exchange ,act of #aidh 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #adca et seq474 7#b7 ,the ,mutual ,educational and ,cultural ,exchange ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bdea et seq474 7#c7 ,section #abhg of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjag 7,public ,law #aad-cbh2 #bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bfef note74 7#d7 ,the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baea et seq474 7e7 ,limited exemption relating to the ,privacy ,act 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,department of ,state shall maintain1 collect1 use1 and disseminate records 7as such term is defined in section #eeb;a7a77#d7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code7 for audience research1 digital analytics1 and impact evaluations of communications related to public diplomacy programs and activities of the ,department1 including interagency efforts1 intended for foreign audiences4 7#b7 ,conditions ,audience research1 digital analytics1 and impact evaluations under paragraph 7#a7 shall be-- 7,a7 reasonably tailored to meet the purposes of the public diplomacy programs and activities of the ,department of ,state1 including related interagency activities2 and 7,b7 carried out with due regard for privacy and civil liberties guidance and oversight4 7f7 ,united ,states ,advisory ,commission on ,public ,diplomacy 7#a7 ,in general ,section #accd of the ,foreign ,affairs ,reform and ,restructuring ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #feec7 is amended-- 7,a7 in the section heading1 by striking ,sunset and inserting ,continuation2 and 7,b7 by striking until ,october #a1 #bjbj4 7#b7 ,effectiveness ,assessment ,subparagraph 7,b7 of section #fjd7;d77#a7 of the ,united ,states ,information and ,educational ,exchange ,act of #aidh 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #adfi7;d77#a77 is amended to read as follows3 7,b7 ,effectiveness assessment ,in evaluating the public diplomacy and international broadcasting activities described in subparagraph 7,a71 the ,commission shall conduct an assessment that considers the relation to the ,united ,states national interest1 the public diplomacy target impact1 the achieved impact1 and the cost of public diplomacy activities and international broadcasting4 ,the assessment shall include1 if practicable1 an appropriate metric such as cost-per-audience or cost-per-student for each such activity4 ,upon the completion of the assessment1 the ,commission shall assign a rating of-- 7i7 effective for activities that-- 7,i7 set appropriate goals and achieve all or most of the desired results2 7,,ii7 are well-managed2 7,,iii7 are cost efficient2 and 7,,iv7 quantifiably advance the priorities of the most recent ,national ,security ,strategy and related national strategies for defense and foreign policy2 7ii7 moderately effective for activities that-- 7,i7 set appropriate goals and achieve some desired results2 7,,ii7 are generally well-managed2 7,,iii7 may need to improve their cost efficiency1 including reducing overhead2 and 7,,iv7 have a substantive rationale for advancing the priorities of the most recent ,national ,security ,strategy and related national strategies for defense and foreign policy1 but have not demonstrated quantifiable results2 7iii7 ineffective for activities that-- 7,i7 lack appropriate goals or fail to achieve stated goals or desired results2 7,,ii7 are not well-managed2 7,,iii7 are not cost efficient1 such as through insufficient use of available resources to achieve stated goals or desired results1 or have excessive overhead2 or 7,,iv7 do not have a substantive rationale for advancing the priorities of the most recent ,national ,security ,strategy and related national strategies for defense and foreign policy2 or 7iv7 results not demonstrated for activities that-- 7,i7 do not have acceptable performance public diplomacy metrics for measuring results2 or 7,,ii7 are unable or failed to collect data to determine if such activities are effective4 4 7#c7 ,subcommittee for research and evaluation ,the ,united ,states ,advisory ,commission on ,public ,diplomacy shall establish a ,subcommittee on ,research and ,evaluation to monitor and advise regarding audience research1 digital analytics1 and impact evaluations carried out by the ,department of ,state and the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media4 7#d7 ,annual report ,the ,subcommittee on ,research and ,evaluation established pursuant to paragraph 7#c7 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an annual report1 in conjunction with the ,united ,states ,advisory ,commission on ,public ,diplomacy's ,comprehensive ,annual ,report on the performance of the ,department of ,state and the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media1 describing all actions taken by the ,subcommittee pursuant to such paragraph and any findings made as a result of such actions4 #g4 ,foreign mission language support 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,state shall ensure that each ,united ,states chief of mission has available appropriate personnel and resources to provide translation services for such chief of mission and the ability to translate content into local languages4 7b7 ,notification ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act and annually thereafter for a period of five years1 the ,secretary of ,state shall notify the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate of any ,united ,states diplomatic or consular posts that do not have permanent capabilities to provide translation services to the chief of mission of such a post or translate content into local languages4 #h4 ,lateral entry for public diplomacy personnel ,the ,secretary of ,state shall make full use of available authorities1 including section #djd of the ,department of ,state ,authorities ,act1 ,fiscal ,year #bjag 7,public ,law #aad-cbc71 to recruit not fewer than ten individuals with extensive experience in strategic communications1 including in foreign languages1 graphic design1 market research1 social media engagement1 audio and video content creation1 and related capabilities for lateral entry into the ,foreign ,service at a grade level higher than ,,fs-#d4 ,such individuals shall be assigned to ,united ,states diplomatic or consular posts which the ,secretary determines are in need of personnel to engage in public diplomacy efforts consistent with this ,act4